From My Window
I WON!!!
Photo by John Welby, MD.
Winning: A Story of Grief and Renewal is a winner. Though my chances of receiving first prize in the INDIE Books of the Year were slim at best, I won first prize in the grief category. When I read the notification email, I screamed and jumped up and down. More than 2,400 authors submitted their books for consideration. These entries were divided into 55 categories. Each category was narrowed down to 12 finalists. The finalists’ books were sent to individual librarians and booksellers tasked with picking the finalists and I won gold. Receiving this award is one of the highlights of my career.
Television Coverage
KAAL Television in Rochester, MN included a story about me receiving the INDIE Books of the Year Award in a recent newscast. I’m grateful for this coverage and thank the station for it.
Arts and Decorating Committee
Photo by Peg Freel.
Chairing the Arts and Decorating Committee at Charter House is satisfying. I really enjoy being involved in planning exhibits for the lobby display. The displays alternate from individual collections to Participating Art. “Remember This?” was last month’s display, everything from a landline telephone to a wooden butter spoon. The 1912 adding machine received lots of attention. In fact, a visitor asked if it was part of the sidewalk sale and wanted to buy it. She was disappointed when I said, “No. Sorry.”
Part of my job is providing art as needed. The pictures in the Assisted Living dining room had been there for years and Emma Books, Senior Director of Residential Designing, asked for my input. After hours of searching Amazon, I found some prints I thought would work. I donated six of my doodle art pictures (all originals) and Emma ordered the prints. Together, the prints and doodle art will add bursts of color to the dining room.
Book Business
Grief in Your Words: How Writing Helps You Heal is my last book. Ending my career was a difficult decision, but I want to explore other things: doodle art, travel, book marketing, spending time with my daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren, pictured below. In short, exciting times are ahead.
Grief in Your Words is one of the best books I’ve ever written because I lived it. I literally wrote my way from grief to healing. Authors need reviews, so please post a review of Grief in Your Words or Winning or any of my other books on Amazon. Recommend my books to friends as well. Thanks for your help.
This is also my last printed/emailed newsletter. To get updates on what’s going on in my life visit www.harriethodgson.net and click on the blog tab. The posts will be short, honest, and fun. I hope we stay in touch and you’ll login often.
Quote of the Month
This quote from professional tennis player Arthur Ashe summarizes my approach to life and I live it every day.
““Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
